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Stacy Dean Stephens

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Stacy is a seasoned, senior executive with 20 plus years’ experience in law enforcement, public safety and security technology integration. He holds several patents for autonomous robots used in security applications. He is an expert in brand development, marketing, operations, and customer service. Stacy was named Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers for his commitment to advancing law enforcement technology.

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Each year the latest firearms, law enforcement gear, and shooting sports products make their debut at the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. This year's show is scheduled for the middle of this month at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. And from what the POLICE editorial staff is hearing from some of the top law enforcement product manufacturers, the guns making their debut (or U.S. debut) at SHOT 2014 will continue some of the trends that we have seen in the last five or so years.

Since the expansion of concealed carry laws nationwide, some of the biggest sellers in the firearms market have been compact or even pocket-sized pistols. The word from major pistol makers is that this trend will continue and probably gain steam.

The other major trend in the firearms market is the AR-variant rifle. These semi-automatic versions of military-style rifles called "modern sporting rifles" in the industry continue to be extremely popular as target and hunting rifles with gun enthusiasts and as patrol rifles for law enforcement. Both new and improved versions of ARs will be on display at this year's SHOT.

At the IACP show these days there's the conventional stuff that you would expect to see at any law enforcement exposition and there's the stuff that seems to have dropped out of a science fiction movie. And it can be on the same aisle and even side by side; sometimes it can even be in the same booth.

Each year, law enforcement agencies in Michigan and Southern California evaluate new pursuit-rated police vehicles from the upcoming model year. This year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department tested 21 sedans, SUVs, and motorcycles from the 2014 model year. Read the full story here. Photos by Paul Clinton.

Sgt. Steven Means found himself in a gunfight with a man in a trailer park on July 29, 2012. Two people and their two dogs had already been killed. These photos show details from the crime scene in Early, Texas.